The Kipinä Model
In 2021 Genesis Kindergarten joined the reputed international network Kipinä Kids, which promotes an educational model that uses Finnish pedagogy for learning, and strives to best prepare children for access to any school system.
Kipinä stands for innovation in education and aims to bring joy, love and pleasure to learning, through the improved Finnish teaching system, which balances play with guided learning. Thus, children will be prepared to easily adapt to school, accessing any desired educational system after completing their kindergarten years.
We have added and integrated the Kipinä philosophy into our existing preschool programme in an attempt to improve the latter by assimilating the well-reputed Finnish curriculum.
The Finnish
education model
in a global approach
Inspired by the Finnish education system, Kipinä’s approach is improved and adapted to the global context, so it can be applied in any country in the world. The novelty that Kipinä brings is that of guided play, in which the teacher intervenes to support the learning process, but his or her contribution remains limited, the child being the one who discovers through his/her actions.
Focused learning is also a novelty introduced by Kipinä, and helps children learn at a faster pace, while improving their performance.
Another particularly important aspect of Kipinä’s philosophy is that of respecting each child’s individual learning rhythm. Thus, teachers make sure, every time, that each child has understood and knows how to use what has been taught, before moving on to the next lesson.
By using the Gradual Release of Responsibility (GRR) model, Kipinä educators continuously interact with children in a carefully guided way, to help them overcome any learning obstacle, regardless of age. At the same time, the use of this model also gives children the chance to cultivate their independence and self-confidence, both particularly important attributes in their further evolution.
Kipinä
Development
Directions
Kipinä’s carefully studied educational programme has been designed to blend play-based learning with structured outcomes, giving children a competitive edge. The program includes 6 directions of development and innovation, focusing on the emotional, social, cognitive and physical development of each child.
Activities in Cognitive Development through Exploration and Play
Play and exploration provide support for developing literacy skills, mathematical skills, as well as for capitalizing on children’s curiosity and exuberance towards the surrounding world. The preschool period is not only a stage of physical growth, but also a period of remarkable mental development.
Networking and character development
In addition to academic support, the educational programme at Genesis Kipinä Kindergarten focuses on developing children’s social and emotional skills and encourages the development of positive relationships with others; aims at forming and practicing socio-affective skills, self-knowledge and knowledge of others, emotional self-regulation, assertive communication. The psycho-emotional development program is carried out in team teaching with the kindergarten psychologist.
Numeracy
Children need mathematical skills to solve problems, to understand time, numbers, patterns and shapes. Children studying at Genesis Kipinä Kindergarten develop the confidence to make decisions, in all aspects of their daily lives, through the ability to critically evaluate and reflect on quantitative information.
The development of mathematical skills will allow children to explore the world more deeply through logical-mathematical thinking, once kindergarten begins.
Physical development and the importance of health awareness
The focus on physical activity and health development, integrated into Kipinä’s elements, supports cognitive, physical development and leads to high academic performance. Current studies of children’s brains show that physical activity and a healthy lifestyle make them happier and able to advance faster than those who lead unhealthy and sedentary lifestyles and leads to higher academic performance. We encourage daily sports and movement activities outdoors or in specially designed spaces.
Cultural Awareness and Diversity
Kipinä provides an inclusive environment that celebrates the uniqueness of each child. Children are encouraged to develop a deep understanding of the culture to which they belong, while at the same time appreciating and accepting the diversity of other cultures. Children will become socially responsible citizens and embrace fair and democratic practices that will develop their cultural identity.
Literacy, communication and language
Kipinä provides an inclusive environment that celebrates the uniqueness of each child. Children are encouraged to develop a deep understanding of the culture to which they belong, while at the same time appreciating and accepting the diversity of other cultures. Children will become socially responsible citizens and embrace fair and democratic practices that will develop their cultural identity
Preparation of Kipinä educators
In order to meet all Kipinä standards, teachers in kindergartens where the program is adopted attend training courses at the Häme University of Applied Sciences (HAMK) and are thus certified to provide the best care and early childhood education. The training is done under special conditions, within a special program developed by the teachers of the partner university, so that it can be applied in contexts outside the Finnish educational space
Genesis Kipinä kindergarten premises
The kindergarten is arranged according to Kipinä standards, so children work in an inspiring, airy and orderly environment, which, according to research in the field, helps them concentrate and enjoy the learning experience. In each classroom there is a wall painted green to stimulate the creativity of the little ones.The classrooms are airy and spacious, with large windows that allow light to enter and are equipped with blinds that allow adjusting the light level to ensure optimal comfort during the sleep period.
Children also have unique educational spaces, interactive and exploratory areas, where they learn through discovery and practise social skills:
- Music & Reading Room – a specially designed room with innovative solid oak furniture, musical instruments and over 1,900 books in Romanian and foreign languages: English, French, German, Spanish and Italian;
- Imaginarium – a space that stimulates children’s imagination and creativity through diverse and interesting role-playing games. Everything in the Imaginarium sparks a child’s imagination. The multifunctional stage, various accessories, costumes, kitchen, shop, dollhouse – all are waiting for children to enter the world of imagination and creativity.
- Indoor play – specially designed areas for the good mood and relaxation of the little ones, complementing the development of gross motor skills and social skills.
- Outdoor play – the outdoor playground, well-loved by all children, is fenced and secured, giving the little ones the space they need to play freely, while learning to be friendly with nature;
- Friendship City – an outdoor city, a representation of the community where the little ones live, identical to real-life actions and transposed into the world of games, children can explore the town built on their size.
- EcoGarden – the garden where the little ones take care of aromatic herbs (mint, basil, sage, etc.), which they will be able to use in our kitchen, but also various plants.
- Sensory Play – moments of games and play in sensory areas, such as the mud kitchen and the sandbox, stimulate the children’s natural curiosity and develop practical life skills as they discover their world.
- Green spaces – spaces specially designed for outdoor activities, close to nature.
Kipinä promotes a healthy lifestyle that includes, apart from a healthy diet, many outdoor activities and games, giving children the opportunity to receive their daily dose of vitamin D. Precisely for this reason, special outdoor spaces are used not only for play, but also for outdoor lessons and learning activities.
Kipinä Parents App
Another particularly important pillar of Kipinä’s philosophy is the close relationship between parents and kindergarten, so that the child enjoys the same support, encouragement, care and comfort, both at home and in kindergarten.
Through the Kipinä Parent App, parents receive up-to-date information on their child’s progress on skill development, as well as photos, videos and information about their activities, which ensures the possibility of close collaboration to achieve the common goal – the child’s well-being.
